Railroad spike



Patented Oct. 27, 1925.

PATENT QFFICE.

WILLIAM F. RUHTER, OF JTJ'AINITA, NEBRASKA.

RAILROAD SPIKE.

Application led June 9, 1921. Serial No. 476,259.

To all 'whom t may concern Be it known that I, IVILLIAM F. RUH'rnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Juanita, in the county of Adams and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad Spikes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in railroad spikes, and more particularly to a fastening means therefor, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a spike having means whereby a .locking pin or nail may be inserted therethrough to claw or bite the material in which thc spike is introduced, t-hus preventingr casual displacement of said spike.

A further object of the invention resides in providing a spike with an arcuate channel terminating in the side opposite that to which the head of the spike is directed, the entrance opening of the channel to be countei-sunk to receive therein the head of the nail to be introduced therein.

Still another object of the invention resides in providing a locking nail or pin which is previously dipped in paint, liquor or other material to resist corrosion.

IV ith these and other objects in view my invention conssts in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out inthe specification and claim.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application:

The ligure is a sectional view through the tie showing the spike in part section.

In describing the invention I shall refer to the drawing, in which l designates a rail road spike of the usual or any preferred type adapted for introduction to a tie or the like 9,. It will be understood that while I have shown a railroad spike for use in connection with railroad ties that this spike might be used for any other purpose and in connection with any other member than a tie, if desired.

The shank of the spike is providedwith an arcuately designed channel or keyway 3, coated with anti-corrosive material the openings thereof terminating in the same face of the spike, such face being opposite that to which the head of said spike is directed. The upper opening of the keyway or channel, designated as 4., is countersunk. A nail or key 5 is provided which is adapted to be introduced into the keyway 3 and the head of this nail or keyway will be seated in this countersunk portion 4t. It will be seen that by driving' a nail or key through the keyway, the end of said nail or key will be driven diagonally through the material into which the spike l is disposed to claw said material and prevent casual displacement of the spike. I prefer to first dip the nail or key 5 into a liquor, paint or other material to coat the same and prevent corrosion.

From the foregoing description of the construction of my improved device, the operation thereof will be readily understood, and it will be seen that I have provided a simple, inexpensive and etiicient means forV carrying out the objects of the invention.

While I have particularly described the elements best adapted to perform the functions set forth, it obvious that various changes in the fornn proportion, and in the minor details of construction may be ro sorted to without departingl from the spirit or sacrificing any of the princii'iles of the invention.

Ifiaving thusI described my invention, what I claim is:

A spike having a shank and a head thereon, said shank being provided with an arci'- ate keyway'in the upper half thereof, the crown of said arcuate keyway being in the plane of the vertical axis of said shank and the ends of said keyway being in vertical alignment in the one face of said shank opposite that to which the head of said spike is directed, the upper terminal end of said keyway being enlarged and beveled outwardly, and a coated nail adapted to be introduced through saidkeyway, the head of said nail being adapted for seating in the enlarged end ofthe keyway, as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

IVILLIAM F. RUHTER. 

